INSIDE BACKGROUND SCREENING


Federal Bill Could Mandate Employment Background Checks in Schools


Shockingly, there is no federal law mandating background checks be conducted for school employees. In fact, in 2010 the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GOA) conducted a study, which highlighted many instances of sex offenders and people with a history of sexual misconduct being hired or retained as teachers, support staff, volunteers, and contractors. In May of 2013, HR2083 - The Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators Act of 2013 was introduced with bipartisan support. The Bill would amend the ―Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965‖ to require criminal background checks for school employees among other safety requirements. Although several points within the Bill are positive and will further protect our children, relying on FBI fingerprint data and/or statewide criminal database information alone will not provide enough accurate and up-to-date criminal history information to conduct a comprehensive criminal background check. There are huge information gaps in statewide and FBI criminal data. This Bill, in its current state, will only require limited FBI data and only include statewide information within the current applicant‘s state of residence. A comprehensive preemployment criminal background check can only be conducted by using several sources of information such as county/parish, state, federal and even proprietary national criminal database information.


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ANNUAL BACKGROUND SCREENING INDUSTRY BUYERS GUIDE


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Understanding the tactics used by adult manipulators and the behaviors of at-risk youth will help you identify problems before they escalate into emergencies. With most incidents of violence, he or she usually exhibited indications of increasing tension that preceded the act. This increasing tension occurs along a continuum, which can be a tactic used to lull an intended victim to let their guard down. Knowing these signs is the first step in protecting yourself from those who seek to harm you. The continuum has three levels: Intimidation, Escalation and Further Escalation. A person can sometimes show signs in different levels of the continuum simultaneously. Look for a change in their normal behavior, with a ―cluster‖ of behaviors that occur close together, especially after a ―trigger‖ or emotional event. People who exhibit signs of intimidation will not be pleasant to work with, but that does not necessarily mean they will become violent. Generally, it is best to bring these behaviors to the attention of your supervisors, and let them try to help. As their behaviors escalate, it will become imperative that your supervisors become


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Drug Use Among U.S. Workers Declines 74% Over Past 25 Years, Amphetamine and Opiate Use Grows


Quest Diagnostics‘ 25th Anniversary Drug Testing Index reports a deep drop in drug use among American workers in the quarter century the Index has been published. Based on over 125 urinalysis drug tests, the laboratory network and provider of diagnostic information said use had plummeted 75% since its data assessment initiative began shortly after passage of the 1988 federal Drug Free Workplace Act through 2012. Among the more significant findings announced by Quest: The positivity rate for the combined U.S. Workforce dropped from 13.6% in 1988 to 3.5% in 2012 (74%); The positivity rate for the Federally Mandated Safety-Sensitive Workforce declined by 38% from 2.6% in 1992 to 1.6% in 2012; The positivity rate for the U.S. General Workforce declined by 60%, from 10.3% in 1992 to 4.1% in 2012. Despite the overall decline, the positivity rate for certain drugs such as amphetamines and prescription opiates rose during this period. A 2012 report by Quest Diagnostics found that the majority of Americans misused their prescription medications, including opioids and amphetamine medications. The data suggests, in our opinion, that workplace drug testing, with its threat of disclosure and risk of disciplinary action and termination, has helped reduce markedly the positivity rates for illegal drugs over the last 25 years, but that employers‘ testing programs must be reviewed periodically and revised to address the abuse of new and different drugs and controlled substances, and changes in laws and regulations.


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WORKPLACE VIOLENCE NEWS - continued The Warning Signs of Violence


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